The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1950 Suspension Up grade HELP

I have a 1950 Survivor . I want to do a Suspension upgrade . Who make the best "KIT" what are my options .

Welcome to Stovebolt. When I saw your post, I thought you meant "survivor" like it's made it all this time. But I figured it'd better check. Now, I'm still not sure but when I did a search, there actually are a bunch of images titled "1950 Survivor." Now, is that right? Is your request about a 1950 truck that survived ... or something else?


Something like one of these?

What do you consider an upgrade?

I have a 1950 3100 "survivor" that has never been restored and was in regular use on a farm into the 1990s.

New tires and wheels of the correct original size made a big improvement in handling. Brand new Monroe shock absorbers (OE Spectrum and Gasmatic) made driving and overall handling suitable and safe for highway driving.

The front and rear leaf springs are original but not worn or sagging. Truck stays in a straight line over bumps and potholes at all speeds up to 65 (top). If your springs are worn out, new OEM style springs are available from Eaton-Detroit. Less expensive, original style springs are available from Rock Auto and other suppliers.

Replace what's worn out and broken and you won't need a so-called upgrade kit. These trucks handled just fine when new and still do when everything is in proper order.

To my knowledge there is no such thing as a bolt-on "upgrade kit".

Similar to Otto, my question would be what is your goal for the truck long term?

Do you want to restore it? Build a resto-mod? Have a comfortable daily driver for around town? An occasional cruiser?

Depending on what you are trying to achieve, this thread should probably move to either Driveline or HiPo.

Welcome to the"BOLT". When you say "Survivor " on this forum it evokes images of an unmolested Truck, people here are very passionate about keeping them original. Tell us some more about your Truck and you goals for it . Are you wanting to "Ugrade" the original suspension or change to something completely new?

Now, just saying fellas, "survivor" (in that link of images) also includes these below. So, we need to find out if it's even a truck.

An Oldsmobile image , and a Ford?
What alternative universe have I woken up in???

I did say, "just saying." We've seen other crazy things in here before. If it is something other than a truck, well .... dear me. He can't get in to the Spoon without the secret "Members Only" handshake, monogrammed wrench, and/or the "attire" of the day. Bouncer's discretion on the last one.
Let's see: will we ever hear from him again?

"Just wondering."

You’re all gonna scare this poor guy off. Let’s at least find out what he wants to upgrade!

Welcome to the ‘Bolt!

The only thing I can add there is a situation out there called WYAHS. It is, while you are here syndrome. I had it when I started on my 54. First, it was new tires and independent front suspension then a Nova rear end and a t5 transmission. You get the idea. All worth it in the end, BTW it took 2 years to accomplish. I did some of the work in the beginning but my skill set is limited. Also, I have a Nova rear end and an AMC Pacer front suspension, it works for me but maybe not for your intentions. Maybe a Mustang 2?

Popsy, Welcome to Stovebolt! Lots of replies to your first post. Don’t let any of the thoughts or comments throw you off. We all know the truck is yours and at the end of the day your choice is yours and doesn’t require anyone else’s approval.

That being said, the topic of your post is directed towards a suspension upgrade. The best place for this topic is in the Driveline, so I’ve moved your thread there for further on-topic discussion.

Please do come back and fill us in on what your end plan is for the truck as that will help provide you the best answers to your questions.

Before undertaking any modifications, make sure you have a specific goal in mind. Do you intend to drive long distances at interstate speed, tow trailers, drag race, or do things the truck was not intended to do when it was manufactured? If so, you'll probably need to more or less remanufacture the entire vehicle, and simply drop the antique sheet metal onto a completely new chassis and running gear. A weekend cruiser probably doesn't need anything beyond a careful rehab of the existing steering and suspension system and maybe- - - -or maybe not- - - -a more modern brake system. Even original equipment brakes, restored to "as new" condition, are more than adequate for most, if not all normal driving situations. If "single line" brakes were actually as dangerous and unreliable as some people believe, there wouldn't be any stovebolts left to restore- - - -they would have all been totaled out in catastrophic crashes decades ago.

Before you start butchering up an example of a "survivor" as you describe your new toy, please be sure what you're doing to it will be an actual upgrade, not just blindly following the other lemmings over the cliff.
Jerry

It is a TRUE survivor , The engine an trans are out ,, but I have them . Other than that the truck has NO rust . the frame looks great , The wiring is even in good shape . The seat is still in it
It is a much better truck than I was looking for . I want a lowered Drivable Street truck . I want to use Mustang II front suspension and was thinking a ford 8.8 rear end , I just don't know who makes the best front kit. I would share pics but I don't see an option to do that

Yea! Popsy! Welcome back! And it is a truck!

HERE IS WHERE you'll find instructions for adding pictures to your posts.

Here are a few ,It looks better In person .

Truck is a wow! Shop/garage is a double-wow!

Ok I've the hang of this now .. I hate to destroy such a part of history , But I want a Street truck to drive every day 400 small block of even a 396, Take on trips ect . I was NEVER thinking full restore ,
This truck looks like a really good one to me , I'm struggling now .

Ha! We're only here to help. Not add to any angst. But, I imagine many folks can feel your pain. There are pros and cons to everything. Hopefully, you have time to think it threw a bit.

Chevy and GM made a whole bunch of these trucks! Make your specific to you so you will feel comfortable and will enjoy driving it!

As for a front end kit, how "high end" do you want to go? Shiny stuff.

Popsy, I drive my 1950 3100 as a regular daily driver truck. This includes regular use on the interstate with its 216, 3pd, etc. I have never owned a modern car. There s no reason your truck can't be used as a daily driver in its current configuration.

Rebuild the brakes, steering , and suspension if needed and drive it like it is. It looks like too nice a truck to hotrod.

It's only Original once!
-T

I would be struggling too if I were in your shoes. Actually I am in your shoes right now.
You may not realize this, but what you have turns as many heads, if not more than a highly modified, high performance show truck.
I have one of each and that aspect amazes me.
I have a '50 with deep patina similar to yours (I like yours better than mine). I wanted a daily driver that I could comfortably drive across the country on the interstate without any worries. I replaced every moving part in the stock suspension, and installed a T-5 behind a fully rebuilt '53 235 engine. It has a limited slip rear end in it so that I can pull my heavy Jon boat out of some very nasty boat ramps. That T-5 really brings that 235 to life. I can pull stumps and drag them down the road at 65 MPH. (I haven't actually done that yet. One day I will. )
It drives and rides like a dream, and people are constantly honking their horn at me and giving me thumbs up. I can't stop anywhere without someone coming up to me to tell me how much they like my truck.
If the rest of your truck is solid and repairable, I suggest that rather than hacking this one up, buy another one and build it however you want, and fix the one you currently have as is. I never could understand why anyone would just have only one of these trucks. I have recently pared my fleet down to only three trucks. My third one is going to be built as original. I want to be able to pull into a cruise-in and start the 216 with a hand crank.

If you do decide to modify it, you might want to move over to HiPo where we sppecifically focus on that kind of thing.

As far as "upgrades" to the suspension go, your options are really ro rebuild it stock with modern components or put some kind of IFS under it.

Given that you mentioned lowering, the Mustang II based system is probably your best bet. Several vendors sell a bolt on crossmember to install one.

From the look of your shop, fabrication is likely within your skillset, so a weld-in setup might be preferable.

Very cool. I vote keep it as is (or maybe with Carl’s upgrades)


Or᠁

Check out BarnFind49’s pick em up truck. It is very similar to yours, but VERY different. You might just like that idea too.

I can make a mustang 2 recommendation. Fatman Fabrications!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I totally regret using the kit I did instead of Fatman. I won't call out who I used. For rear suspension, I used 800 lb 3 leaf springs from a 2wd S10, 4x4 s10 axle, and stock s10 shocks with a mount that I fabricated. With the mustang 2 suspension (corrected by me and lots of research) and the S10 rear suspension, it is a solid, smooth riding, good handling truck. I have 3.42 gears and an sm319 OD trans behind a 4.8 ls. I have comfortably made 6-700 mile trips with it.

I don't think you'll be suspended for telling the truth.

I'll be removing an M-II crossmember and suspension with R&P steering and going back to an original equipment straight axle on the dirt track racer replica I'm building. Ditto for the rear suspension- - - -removing a GM 10 bolt and going back to a cross spring and a banjo housing rear end. Both of those will get recycled for other projects, though.
Jerry